Jasper Dark Sky Festival (with Kids) #AlbertaBucketList

Jasper’s Dark Sky invites astronomers at every level to gaze upon the wonder of one of the world’s largest dark sky preserves. As daylight hours begin to recede, October is the ideal time to celebrate the skies with the annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival, an ever-growing festival aimed at connecting all ages to our universe and beyond.

The Jasper Dark Sky Festival has a lot of cool events for adults and older kids – but what if you want to bring the kids along to experience some of the magic of the dark sky preserve? What kinds of activities are kid-friendly during the Jasper Dark Sky Festival?

Here’s what to do with Kids during the Jasper Dark Sky Festival

Build your own ESTES Banshee Flyable model rocket in this one hour build session with staff from the TELUS World of Science – Edmonton and then fly it on Saturday at Centennial Field. Rocket, finishing supplies plus 1 ESTES B6-4 rocket engine, recovery wadding and igniter provided for one flight provided. Additional rocket engines available on launch day for $2.00 each for additional flights (while supplies last). Launch day will be Saturday, October 24, between noon and 4:00 p.m. at Centennial Field. Launch pads will be provided for use on launch day. Launch time will be on Saturday, October 24, between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. It’s $20, and you can pre-register, here.

Science Activity Tables (October 24). Make a Hoopster and straw rocket (make and take element), try your hand at solving brain teasers, explore the world of the very small through a microscope, see your infrared image. A variety of science related table top activities and challenges will be on-hand for you to try! This activity is free.

Dark Sky Science Showcase. (October 24). See some of the best science demonstrations that really make science come alive! TELUS World of Science – Edmonton staff will amaze and astound you in this fun, energetic and enlightening experience. Make liquid nitrogen ice cream, see how soda pop can be made the fast way, see the power of air pressure and witness the explosive nature of rocket fuel! This activity is free.

Go to the Candy Store. A trip to Jasper isn’t complete with a trip to the candy store. You can find candy, chocolate and fudge – plus many other delicious treats in stores. This is the perfect time to give the kids their allowance and let them splurge on candy that’s harder to find in traditional Edmonton stores.

Where to Stay During the Festival

During the festival, there are some fantastic hotel accomodations available with perks like being able to borrow telescopes and star maps. With hotel packages for as little as $100/night, it’s one of our top Alberta bucket list winter fun suggestions.